Adjustable separator for packing flowers and the like



Nov. 24, 1931. c. w SLACK 1,833,441

I ADJUSTABLE SEPARATOR FOR PACKING FLOWERS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 25,1929 11 er Z 1/ f u 14 I 1M3 FIGS y 31 n w My 20 15 /1a 21 )iW L 16 i6INVENIOR F cHARLEswsLAcK BY Wh /m .AI TO RNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1931UNITED STATES CHARLES w. SLACK, or WATERLOO, QUEBEC, CANADA ADJUSTABLESEPARATOR FOR PACKING FLOWERS AND THE LIKE Application filed January 25,1929, Serial No. 335,061, and in Canada December 17, 1928.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in separators forpacking flowers and like goods which are easily crushed and the objectof the invention is to provide an adjustable separator which will fit avariety of sizes of packing cases or boxes and support one layer offlowers and prevent said layer from crushing or being crushed byadjacent layers.

According to my invention, I provide an adjustable separator comprisinga pair of complementary rods each rod being provided with a loop so thatone slides within the other. The loops are formed at the adjacent endsof the rods and terminate in upwardly turned portions which areconnected by a resilient member adapted to draw the rod ends togetherand exert a pressure adapted to force the remote ends of the rods, whichare pointed into the sides of the packing case.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention:

Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation of a packing case with my improvedseparators mounted therein, and the flowers packed horizontally in thecase.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the packing shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the separators, and Figure 1shows a modified type of tensioning means.

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of a packing case showing theflowers packed vertically in the case.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 and 12 designate tworods of similar construction. Each rod at one end 13 is A bent to form aloop 14. The extreme end 15 of the rod extends beyond the outercircumference of the loop for the purpose hereinafter described. Theother end 16 of each rod is pointed. Each separator consists of tworods, one sliding within the loop of the other and a tensioning member17 is secured to the extensions 15 so that the adjacent or loop ends or"the rods are drawn towards one another tending to lengthen the rod andexerting a pressure on the pointed ends to force them into the sides 18of the packing 0 case 19 when in use as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Theseparators are placed within the packing case or box 19 in spacedrelation and as will be seen are adapted to divide the box in a seriesof compartments each compartment being filled with flowers or the likeso that one layer will not crush or be crushed by the adjacent layer.The separators are inexpensive to manufacture and are easily fitted inplace and as they can be adjusted,

they may be used for a variety of packing cases or boxes of difi'erentwidths. The rods are easily and quickly removed and provide a muchsimpler separator than the type at present in use and which consists ofpieces of wood cut to fit the box and nailed in position.

The device shown is only illustrative of one form of my separator and itwill be readily understood that modifications may be made to theirconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figure 3 the tensioning means 17 is shown as a rubber band while inFigure 4 which shows a modification of the tensioning means I provide aspiral spring 1711 which is preferably provided with looped or hookedends 20 adapted to engage with the extension 15 of the rods 11 and 12.To prevent the pointed ends 16 from piercing the sides of the boxshoulders 21 are formed in proximity to the pointed ends 16. Theseshoulders engage with the inner surface of the packing case.

In Figure 5, a rectangular case is shown but it will be seen that theflowers are packed with the stems vertically disposed and the separatorssubstantially at right angles thereto. This device allows the flowers tobe packed without crushing or crowding them so that they will be safelytransported.

What I claim is:

1. A separator for use in packing flowers and the like, comprising apair of complementary rods with guides formed therein to hold themsubstantially parallel, the remote ends of said rods being pointed andresilient means connecting the adjacent ends of the rods, said meansbeing adapted to draw the ends together and increase the effectivelength of the separator.

2. A separator for use in packing flowers and the like, comprising apair of complementary rods each With a guide formed in proximity to oneend toform a positioning means for the adjacent rod, said guides havingextending arms,the remote ends of said rods being pointed and providedwith shoulders and tensioning means connecting the ex- 7 tending arms,said means being adapted to increase the effective length of theseparator. 3. A separator for use in packing flowers, comprising a pairof relatively slidable rods,

- cooperating means carried by the adjacent extremities of said rods forholding the lat ter parallel and yieldable means connecting saidadjacent extremities and-tending to increase the effective length of therods.

I In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. 7

CHARLES W. SLACK.

